Trimming and assorting device for sheet-like materials



G. OHOLM May 28, 1957 TRIMMING AND ASSORTING DEVICE FOR SHEET-LIKE MATERIALS Filed March 27, 1953 INVENTOR GUSTAV dHoLM ATTORNEYS 'IRIMMING AND ASSQRTING DEVICE FOR SHEET-=LIKE MATERIALS Gustav flholm, Bromma, Sweden, assignor to A B Svenska Flaktfahrilsen, Stockholm, Sweden Application March 27, 1953, SerialNo. 345,033 Claims priority, application Sweden March 27, 1952 4 Claims. (Cl. 143-157) The presentinvention relates to improvements in devices for distributing sheet-like materials and particularly to devices for distributing plane sheets in connection with trimming and cutting of such sheets. These devices usually consist of a distributing table provided with saw blades for transverse and longitudinal cutting of the sheets. They are further provided with liftable. stops partly extending over the width of the table and have transporting means for the transport of sheets on said ldistribu-ting table.

A principal object of the invention is an improvement in devices for distributing plates or sheets manufactured of fibrous materials such as defibrated wood, peat or the like. The invention will therefore be described in connection with distributing such sheets. The invention is, however, not limited to the distributing of defibrated sheets. The manufacture of plates of defibrated wood has been in a high degree an automatic procedure in respect of making the web. The trimming and distributing of the sheets are, however, still a matter of manual working. This is the case for at least hard sheets of defibnated Wood. The sheets which are fed to the sawing device for trimming and cutting of the edges must be separated into diiferent piles, each containing sheets of the same size before their distribution in the market. The longitudinal cut is as a rule limited to a trimming of the edges. It is rather easy to make this automatically as the same procedure is repeated for every sheet. The transverse cut must be made partly with respect to the requirements of the users and partly with respect to the spots or marks which possibly have occurred on the surface of the sheet. Such spots must be cut off from the sheets as they otherwise would spoil the finish or reduce the value of the sheets. Owing. to this fact the transverse cutting must be a manual work and 'an operator must be engaged with this cutting work. The ready sheets have thus obtained different sizes and are of different qualities. This makes it necessary to distribute and put the sheets in different piles after said trimming and cutting. Earlier it has been necessary to engage an extra operator for distributing and piling the sheets. The main object of the invention is to perform an automatically trimming, distributing and collecting of the different kinds of sheets.

The present invention is mainly characterized by the fact that there are 11 stops corresponding to the number of different sorts of sheets and arranged after the transversal cutting saw reckoned in the feeding direction of the sheets. Further there is a distributing table disposed behind the stops, providedwith a number equalt to (n--1) of openings each with a flap extending over the width of the distributing table. Furthermore there are means for actuating each ofthe stops and the flaps resulting in an opening of the flap, which corresponds to a determined length of the sheet and means for predetermining the delay of time in order to feed the proper-sized sheet below the distributing table or to discharge the sheets at the end of the distributing table.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention States Patent 9 the stops are operated either electrically or mechanically by means of mechanism arranged adjacent to the transverse cutting saw.

According to' a further modification. of the invention guiding and feeding devices are arranged at the underneath side of each of the flaps.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the constructionand operation thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a. diagrammatic side elevational view of the trimming and lassorting device for sheet-like material of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, and:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal view partially in section of the apparatus of Fig. 1 illustrating the operating mechanism for the flaps and stops.

The designation 1 stands for sheets having their orig inal not trinuned size. These sheets are fed one after the other to a distributing table 2 and are fed by means of a pair of nip rolls 3 longitudinally of the apparatus of the present invention to a longitudinal cutting saw 4. The sheets pass this saw continuously. When the sheets pass the saw edge strips are cut off by means of two circular saw blades, each arranged at each side of the table. The edges of the sheets will thus be absolutely even. The two saw blades are arranged at a distance from each other corresponding to the predetermined width of the ready sheets. After passing this saw the sheets are carried in the direction of the length of the table by means of another pair of nip rolls 5. The sheets then pass a transversal cutting saw 7, driven by an electrical motor 7a. In order to obtain the predetermined lengths of the sheets they are fed towards the tops 8, 9, i0, 11 which are. placed at fixed distances from the transversal cutting saw 7. The stops are governed by the operator standing at the transversal cutting saw. Thus the operator can select an appropriate stop. The stops are either governed electrically or mechanically. For an electrical governing of the stops there can be push-buttons or another contacting member 23. By means of such a contacting member an electrical circuit can be closed for delivering currents to magnet coils 8a, 9a, ltla, 11a which in turn govern the stops. If on the other hand the stops are mechanically governed this can preferably be executed. by means of a link coupling handled from a place adjacent to the transversal cutting saw. According to the invention the sheets 12 'are fed forwards in the length of direction of the device either on a roller gear table or by means of nip rolls which pull and push the sheets forwards on the distributing table. Said table is provided with adjustable flaps 13, 14 extending over the table. If for instance the flap 14 is closed any passing sheet will continue its movement longitudinally of the distributing apparatus. If on the other hand the flap i3 is opened the sheet 12 will be guided down below the table 2 by the flap 13 and will be resting there. A distribution of all the sheets passing the transverse cutting saw in for instance five separate spaces can in accordance with the invention easily be performed by means of four flaps arranged in the plane top of the table. One predetermined sort of the ready sheets can be discharged at the end 15 of the table.

The governing means 80, 90, etc. for the flaps 13, 14 can be connected to the governing means 8a, 3b, 9a, 9b for the stops mentioned above. When a certain stop is operated the corresponding flap will be opened. Accordingly all sheets of a predetermined length can be collected at one and the same place below the feeding table.

When the piles of sheets below the distributing table contain the predetermined number of sheets they are transported away for instance for storing.

.In order to get the sheets piled well-centered above each other at their collecting place below the table guiding and feeding devices can conveniently be arranged below the above mentioned flaps. Said devices may consist of driven nip rolls, i. e. a pair of rolls 13a, 1411 which are pressed against each other thus feeding the sheets forwards in their entire length as the sheets pass the nip rolls. The sheets can be piled on platforms which are transported away in a known manner by means of a truck (not shown) or the sheets may fall down on a fixed frame, Said frame can be provided with an aperture for the gripping arms of a crane (not shown) for transporting the sheets for instance for storing or shipping.

Raising of the stops may be effected by mechanism of the type shown in Fig. 3 in conjunction with the stop 8. It would be understood that each of the stops is pro vided with similar raising mechanism. This mechanism includes a T-shaped lever 24 which pivots about a stationary pivot point 24a. The stop 8 is mounted at one end of this T-shaped lever and the other end of the lever is provided with a counter weight 25. It will be noted that the core 22 of the coil 8a is positioned within the coil 8a. When the coil 8a is de-energized, the stop 8 will lower of its own weight, the counterweight 25 being of a suficient weight only to partially counterbalance the weight of the lever and stop. The stop 8 normally rests in its lowermost position. Fig. 3 also ldiscloses actuating means for moving the flap 13 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, wherein the cut sheet material is caused to pass downwardly beneath the distributing table, to a position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, wherein the sheet passes longitudinally of the distributing mechanism over the opening with which the flap 13 is associated. The actuating means comprises essentially an electric solenoid 26 which, upon energization, causes actuation of a hydraulic motor 27 which in turn actuates a hydraulic piston 28. The flap 13 is pivoted about the axis of the upper roll 13a and has a downwardly extending arm 130 secured thereto. When the flap 13 is in its lower limit position, as illustrated in broken lines, in Fig. 3, the upper surface of the flap 13 lies in the plane of the table 2 and the sheet material passes over the flap 13. On the other hand, when the flap 13 is in its upper limit position as illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1 and 3, the lower surface of the flap directs the sheet material downwardly beneath the surface of the table 2 to the rolls 13a, 13a, so that the sheets are directed at this point below the level of the stationary tables onto a pile of identically dimensioned sheets. Upon actuation of the hydraulic motor 27 the flap 13 assumes the position shown in broken lines. In this position the flap 13 is out of the path of travel of the sheets and the sheets engage the top of the upper roll 13a and. are driven along the length of the sorting device to be directed to another pile of sheets or oif the end 15 of the distributing device. The downwardly extending arm 130 is interconnected with the piston rod of the hydraulic piston 28 so that actuation of the piston between its forward and rearward limit positions will cause actuation of the flap 13 between its lower and upper limit positions, respectively.

A representative electric circuit is shown in Fig. 3 and includes a push button switch 35 which may be selectively actuated to lower the stop 8 as required while the circuit to the electric solenoid 26 remains energized. By this arrangement, a flap, such as for instance, the flap 13, for deflection of sheets of a particular length, may be arranged in the positions shown in solid lines while successive sheets of a particular length are sawed.

The invention can be modified Within the scope of the claims. In case the sheets must be distributed with respect to quality and finish it is necessary that the sep- 'arate flaps of the distributing table are governed by the operator but independent of the governing of the separate stops.

What I claim is:

1. A trimming and assorting device for sheet-like material comprising: a teedtable including a plurality of longitudinally spaced sections, conveyor means disposed between each of said sections, drive means interconnected with said conveyor means operable to drive said conveyor means, a transverse cutting blade mounted for movement transversely of said feed table operable to cut said sheet material transversely, a plurality of transversely extending stop means arranged in longitudinal spaced relation to said transverse cutting blade on said feed table, means mounting said stop means for movement between a projected limit position in the path of travel of said sheet material and a retracted limit position out of the path of travel of said sheet material, an assorting table mounted adjacent said feed table, said assorting table comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced sections, conveyor means intermediate said assorting table sections operable to convey the cut sheet material lengthwise of said assorting table, means defining a plurality of openings intermediate said assorting table sections, sheet material guide mechanism mounted adjacent each of said openings for movement between opposite limit positions and operable in one limit position to engage the cut sheet material and direct the same downwardly through the opening, and control mechanism interconnected with said stop means and said guide mechanism operable to actuate said stop means and said guide mechanism selectively between their respective limit positions.

2. A trimming and assorting device for sheet-like materials comprising: a feed table including a plurality of longitudinally spaced sections, conveyor means disposed betweeneach of said sections, drive means interconnected with said conveyor means operable to drive said conveyor means, a pair of spaced parallel cutter blades mounted adjacent opposite side edges of said feed table operable to engage and cut the side edges of said sheet material, a transverse cutting blade mounted for movement transversely of said feed table operable to out said sheet material'transversely, a plurality of transversely extending stop means arranged in longitudinal spaced relation to said transverse cutting blade on said feed table, means mounting, said stop means for movement between a projected limit position in the path of travel of said sheet material and a retracted limit position out of the path of travel of said sheet material, an assorting table mounted adjacent said teed table in the same plane as said feed table, said assorting table comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced sections, conveyor means intermediate said assorting table sections operable to convey the cut sheet material lengthwise of said assorting table, means defining a plurality of openings intermediate said assorting table sections, means disposed beneath each of said openings operable to receive said cut sheet material, sheet material guide mechanism mounted adjacent each of said openings for movement between opposite limit positions and operable in one limit position to engage the cut sheet material and direct the same downwardly through the opening, and control mechanism interconnected with said step means and said guide mechanism operable to actuate said stop means and said guide mechanism selectively between their respective limit positions 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of openings intermediate said assorting table sections is one less than said plurality of stop means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism interconnects said stop means and said guide mechanism in pairs to actuate a predetermined guide mechanism to its said one limit position upon actuation of a predetermined stop to its projected limit position, and switch means for each of said step means interconnected References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Williams June 27, 1911 Johanson Aug. 17, 1920 6 Osborn et al. May 9, 1933 Overacker et a1 Aug. 4, 1942 Yost Aug. 22, 1944 Carman Dec. 26, 1950 Wilson June 10, 1952 Smith Nov. 4, 1952 Bovay et a1. Apr. 28, 1953 Dedo Dec. 15, 1953 

